Some friends have asked me about touring Detroit. I have only been to the city once before and didn't spend too much time walking around, so I have some questions on visiting the motor city.

1. Is crime really that bad? Should anyone be walking around downtown at night or during the day?

2. Are there any public observation areas or high vantage points among the skyscrapers to view the skyline? What about reasonably-priced restaurants with a view at, say, the Renaissance Center?

3. Are there abandoned buildings that should be visited?

4. What is the parking situation like in downtown? Are there free lots on weekends?

5. I've come up with a list of must-see attractions for a weekend visit. Please correct me if I've missed something or should drop a few.
- Ford Museum
- Detroit Historical Museum
- Fort Wayne

I've heard mixed reviews of the Chrysler Museum.

6. Are there vantage points such as parks with a good view of the Detroit skyline other than Windsor?

7. Which border crossing into Canada is least busy to get to Windsor?

8. What neighborhoods should we definitely avoid?

Thanks for your input.

1. Is crime really that bad? Should anyone be walking around downtown at night or during the day?

Detroit's property crime rate (the most prevalent type of crime) is no worse than any other major city. It actually ranks #46 for all cities over 100,000. Places like Cincinnati, Toledo, Columbus, Kansas City, Dallas, Seattle, Memphis, Orlando, Atlanta, Tampa, St. Louis, etc. have higher property crime rates than Detroit.

Detroit's problem is with violent crime (assault, rape, murder, robbery), which actually is a small part of the cities total crime. It ranks #1 in the nation for its violent crime rate. However don't let that stop you from visiting. Atlanta, a tourist-friendly city is ranked #2, yet it doesn't get half the reputation Detroit does. Both cities have about 2,000 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, yet Detroit is perceived as unsafe while Atlanta is perceived as safe. Most violent crimes are NOT random and in a lot of cases involve drugs.

Downtown Detroit is actually one of the safest downtowns in the country. I can't guarantee that you won't be a victim of crime, but no city is safe of crime. In any case, there's nothing to be afraid of in Downtown.

2. Are there any public observation areas or high vantage points among the skyscrapers to view the skyline? What about reasonably-priced restaurants with a view at, say, the Renaissance Center?

You can go to the top of the Renaissance Center, however it isn't an observation deck, it's a bar, but you stilll have great views of the city and surrounding areas. There is also a restaurant at the top of the Renaissance Center. It's called Coach Insignia.

3. Are there abandoned buildings that should be visited?

Not really. You can illegaly enter a lot of them, but I don't see why one would want to. Granted, the abandoned buildings are becoming fewer and fewer as they are renovated or demolished.

4. What is the parking situation like in downtown? Are there free lots on weekends?

Detroit has a love-affair with parking. You can find a garage every other block. The only garage downtown that doesn't charge is Greektown Casino's garage, as long as you get it validated in the Casino. I always park there when visiting downtown. It's basically in the center of all downtown activity.

5. I've come up with a list of must-see attractions for a weekend visit. Please correct me if I've missed something or should drop a few.

You should definately check out the Detroit Institute of Arts, its one of the largest fine art museums in the nation. (I believe it has the fifth or sixth largest collection in the U.S.)
Detroit Institute of Arts (http://www.dia.org/)

There's also the Henry Ford, which includes the Henry Ford Museum, Greenfield Village, and the Ford Rouge Factory Tour.
The Henry Ford (http://www.thehenryford.org/)

There are other museums like the Detroit Science Center and the Museum of African American History.
Detroit Science Center (http://www.sciencedetroit.org/)
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History (http://www.maah-detroit.org/)

You can always catch the Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Detroit Symphony Orchestra (http://www.detroitsymphony.org/)

If you're going to be here on a Saturday, I suggest checking out Eastern Market, the largest Farmer's Market in the U.S.
Eastern Market (http://www.easternmarket.org/)

You can always catch a show at one of the many theatres around downtown, including the Fox Theatre, the highest grossing live-theatre in the nation. There are others like the State Theatre, the Gem Theatre, The Fisher Theatre, the Masonic Temple Theatre, the Majestic Theatre, the City Theatre, and more.

There's also the Detroit Opera House, if you like Dance or Opera.
Michigan Opera Theatre (http://www.motopera.org/)

You can't come to Detroit without visiting one of the casinos. I suggest Greektown. But Motor City and MGM Grand are both good as well. There's also Casino Windsor across the border.
Greektown Casino (http://www.greektowncasino.com/)
Motor City Casino (http://www.motorcitycasino.com/)
MGM Grand Detroit (http://detroit.mgmgrand.com/)
Casino Windsor (http://www.casinowindsor.com/)

6. Are there vantage points such as parks with a good view of the Detroit skyline other than Windsor?
Yup, there's Belle Isle which is an Island Park in the Detroit River.
http://www.tellusnews.com/ahr/Belle%20Isle.jpg

The view from Belle Isle:
http://miseagrant.umich.edu/pubs/up/mar03/images/detroit-12.jpg

7. Which border crossing into Canada is least busy to get to Windsor?

Either one is usually fine, though expect delays on weekend nights when Detroit's underage drinkers travel to Canada for the legal drinking.

8. What neighborhoods should we definitely avoid?
There aren't any neighborhoods you should avoid. Detroit is nowhere near as bad as people think it is. Sure there is a lot of decay and there are parts that can seem frightening, but for the most part you are just as safe in a burned out abandoned neighborhood as you are in a tree-lined mansion district. The only difference is the scenery. Granted, I wouldn't necessarily invite you to travel through some of the abandoned neighborhoods.

Mmmkay...

1. No, crime is not really that bad. You need honesty, so here it is: violent crime in Detroit is mostly kept within domestic situations...meaning that both victim and suspect have a relation or know each other. That's not to say Detroit doesn't have "big city" crime, but I think most violent crime images of Detroit are skewed. If you're parking on the street in Detroit, don't leave valuables in sight, better yet leave them behind. The only crimes I've been victim of are theft and break ins. Otherwise, the city has treated me like any other large city.

--OF COURSE you should walk around downtown both during the day and night. Night can be one of the most interesting times to be downtown depending if there is an event or something going on, maybe at Campus Martius Park or something. Downtown Detroit is considered one of the safest in the country. The west side of downtown (west of Woodward) is a little more desolate than the east side, but don't let that deterr you from exploring over there.

2. If you're nice, you can ask the elevator tendant at Coach Insignia to take the elevator up to 73 to shoot pictures. Just tell them you're from out of town and would like to check out the view. If you're uncomfortable about doing that, just tell them you'll get a drink from the bar up there. They might appreciate your business more anyway. I'm not sure their hours though. I think they might have changed them to dinner hours only now so you might only be able to access the observation starting at like 4 or 5.

My favorite downtown spot is the Detroit Beer Company on Broadway @ John R. near Grand Circus Park. If you go there, request the second level window seat. The people mover track goes right by the window, and the Symphony Orchestra Building is across the street. The menu is good and reasonable...this is a sports-type bar theme.

Hockeytown Cafe -Woodward @ Montcalm has a rooftop balcony, but I don't know if it offers much of a view. Try dining in Harmonie Park as well...some outdoor seating there. Greektown, is an obvious alternative. Potbelly's at the RenCen offers great views of the river activity and Windsor.

3. Don't attempt to go in any abandoned buildings, but to look at from the outside, there's the MCS (Michigan Central Station) off of Michigan Avenue. Old Tiger Stadium (Michigan @ Trumbull), David Broderick Tower (Grand Circus Park), Statler demolition (across from Broderick), ALL OF THE PARK AVENUE DISTRICT. It is north of Adams Street behind the Fox Theater and Hockeytown Cafe. Here, is an amazing collection of "OLD DETROIT" streets and architecture that is almost totally abandoned. It's one of my favorite parts of downtown. It'll get your mind going and asking the typical urban explorer type questions.

You must visit Brush Park: Just north of Comerica Park on John R. Street. This is gentrification 101 in Detroit. EXTREME CONTRASTS between blight and $$.

For abandonment, also check out the east riverfront. Another transitioning spot. I'm thinking specifically Franklin Street.

4. You can usually find street parking in downtown on weekends. Meters are free and not enforced. Try to park near Campus Martius Park...try Monroe Street or Cadillac Square (the huge boulevard where the large Pontiac car mural is on the side of Cadillac Tower). I steer away from surface lots. A great alternative is the Greektown Garage (Monroe Street after St. Antoine). If you take your ticket into the casino, you can get it validated and end up parking for free!

5. The Henry Ford and Greenfield Village (if it's "up your alley" the Ford Rouge Factory Tours are now goin on. You can purchase tickets from the museum I believe because that's where they take you by bus to the factory any way.)

Historical Museum, African American Museum, Detroit Institute of Arts...
I have never been into Fort Wayne, but more power to ya if you wanna check it out.

There's also the brand new National Arab-American Museum in Dearborn...downtown on Michigan Avenue near the government center.

You must also go into the Guardian Building (Griswold @ Congress) downtown...and the Fisher Building (Grand Blvd., New Center) If you call the Guardian Building, you might be able to arrange a tour of the building which (might) include a trip to one of the top floors. I remember the doorman saying they might be starting tours like that soon. www.guardianbuilding.com

A great self-tour is offered by the Detroit People Mover.

6. Belle Isle. Great views from the bridge and excellent ones from the southern tip of the island. Accessible by heading east on Jefferson Avenue (from Ren Cen) to Grand Boulevard. Hart Plaza has good views of the riverfront skyline, but I can't think of any other vantage points off hand to view the skyline from.

7. It depends. Rush hour usually is most apparant at the tunnel. Jefferson backs up heavily during this time and will take forever to cross. The tunnel connects you right to downtown though. Take the bridge if it's near rush hour...it'll prolly be a little faster even if you have to drive a little further to get there.

8. None really. Detroit doesn't really have that intense urban dangerous neighborhood. While exploring the city, if you come across a neighborhood that looks shady, just keep driving through. It's most likely an area that has just fallen on hard times and "looks" worse that it really is. A lot of "inner city" Detroit is made up of kind folks just trying to get by just like everyone else. Just have fun, but be smart at the same time.

A job of mine last semester in school was to survey almost every inch of the city, so I've been all over, the good, bad, ugly, and I never really had any problems.

*EDIT IN* A neighborhood you MUST see is the Heidelberg Project You have to drive to it, though. It's a neighborhood that one would think you'd want to stay away from, but this place is a little piece of magic and "art" in the belly of Detroit. It looks forbidding, but they locals love visitors. Take the opportunity to go there.
www.heidelberg.org...there should be a map on the website.

If you have more specific questions, I would be more than happy to help you out...It would be my pleasure! :)

Leave it to hudkina for the statistics! :)

I think we must have been working on these at the same time.

hehe.:)

Beat you!

You wanna go?
http://www.mikk-ms.si/pages/galerija/discogal/images/kung-fu%20fighting.jpg
Bring it!

Try Coach Insignia atop the Renaissance Center for an observation deck. They rarely ask you anything. Plus, there's always people up there just looking and taking pictures. Just don't be afraid of heights, the elevator goes up more than 70 stories and it's made out of glass, so you can see all of the river and Windsor get smaller and smaller as you ascend.

Detroit has more than its fair share of museums and attractions, too much for me to sit here and list. So here are some of my favorite:

-The Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History: This is by far the best museum dedicated to African-American History. They have a permanent exhibition called "And We Still Rise," which goes from Slavery to the 1960s. It's downright amazing, the replicas are extremely lifelike and no page was left unturned. A must see, even Oprah talked about it.

-The Detroit Institute of Arts: The DIA is hands down one of the best art museums in the world. Many of its exhibits have been, and are being, shown across the world, from Spain to Japan. Like the Louvre is known for the Mona Lisa, the DIA is known for the Diego Rivera murals titled "Detroit Industry or Man and Machine." Unfortunately, the museum is closed from August 1 thru mid-September to finish renovation work and construction of a new building extention.

Ranting aside, here are some other places I'd visit while in Detroit:


-Belle Isle*
-Campus Martius*
-Tri-Centennial State Park
-Riverfront*
-The Henry Ford
-Masonic Temple Theatre
-Fox Theatre*
-Renaissance Center*
-Mexicantown*
-Greektown*
-Greektown Casino (the only one I really like)

Detroit is blessed to have a rather comprehensive tourism page. www.visitdetroit.com

If you're not into the touristy stuff, I'd say just walk around, take a taxi and see all ends of the city.

As for crime and all that bolonga; Detroit is a city like any other, you just have to take precaution. As long as I've lived in Detroit, I haven't been apart of nor have I witnessed anything criminal, well, besides a red light or two, or four, maybe a couple hundred...but that's all, promise.

I was just in Detroit, and it is a much nicer city than many put it out to be. Tons of stuff to do (museums, sports, theatre, shopping, gambling, etc) and the people are incredibly nice, nicer than chicago or cleveland imo.

My top destinations:
RenCen
Greektown
Belle Isle
Riverfront
Fox Theatre

Thanks for that, Arizonian!

It's nice to get a pat on the back every 6 gadillion years. :)

Were you here for the All Star Game, family, "fun"?

I really like Belle Island--I think that's the best part of Detroit--too bad others don't see it that way where things are being left to decay.

Not to be anal...but it's Belle ISLE, not ISLAND. :)

Many thanks for your suggestions. I have decided that I will make a trip to Detroit very soon. Look for my photos in a bit!

Not to be anal...but it's Belle ISLE, not ISLAND. :)

Hey, isn't it my job to be anal?;)

hkskyline, I hope you enjoy your visit. We may not be a glamorous town, but we have a pride few cities can match. If you need a tour there's always someone here who's willing to show you the different neighborhoods.

Many thanks for your suggestions. I have decided that I will make a trip to Detroit very soon. Look for my photos in a bit!
Its nice that you travel and get to see things for yourself. You dont go by what others tell you.Keep it up:)

Hey, isn't it my job to be anal?;)
Yah, but you don't get paid!